US Justice Department corruption, Blagojevich trial, Protecting Obama, Part 1
US Justice Department corruption
Blagojevich trial
Protecting Obama
Part 1
Like so many articles or series that I write, this series is changing as I write and develop it. I know generally and in much detail what I want to write, but one thing leads to another and I get a lot of input from great commenters on this blog and via email. Commenter TJ just posted a video as I was doing further research and beginning what was going to be part 1.
Michelle Malkin and Sean Hannity on FOX discuss the Blagojevich trial and Obama’s ties.
Malkin, who I respect very much, and Hannity do a pretty good job of analyzing facts from the Blagojevich trial and linking corruption to Obama. They touched on the Health Planning Facilities Board corruption but did not reveal Obama’s ties to that chicanery and the subsequent corrupt maneuvers by the Justice Department. I suppose that will continue to be left to me.
In the next parts I will lay out how the Blagojevich trial played out, why it should have occured many months earlier, why I believed many months ago that the Justice Dept. was corrupt and why actions leading up to and during the trial by the Justice Dept. prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are protecting Obama. This will be much easier for more people to fathom after recent revelations from J. Christian Adams and others.
Blagojevich: “but compared to even Obama, you know, I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”
US Justice Department corrupt, Blagojevich trial, Patrick Fitzgerald, J Christian Adams
We now have multiple confirmations that the US Justice Department is corrupt and racially biased. J Christian Adams and others are speaking out. For well over a year Citizen Wells has been questioning the Justice Dept. and their actions.
Who in the US Justice Dept. made these decisions?
Wait until December 2008, after the elections, to arrest Rod Blagojevich.
Omit the following from the Indictment. The following statement was in the Criminal Complaint. “The Planning Board was a commission of the State of Illinois, established by statute, whose members were appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois. At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
Focus the prosecution of Blagojevich on the selling of the senate seat.
Indicate the trial will end much earlier than expected (month and a half vs three to four months).
And
Why did Judge James Zagel speak out and say that Tony Rezko would be a bad witness?
Was he laying the groundwork for prosecutors not calling Rezko?
Stuart Levine was the main witness in the Rezko trial. Not only was Levine heavily enmeshed in crime and corruption, he was a long time drug user. Criminals and corruption figures are routinely used as witnesses.
J Christian Adams testimony, US Commission on Civil Rights, Julie Fernandez
J Christian Adams, a former attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Department, testified Tuesday, July 6, 2010, before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Adams is interviewed afterwards on FOX News by Megyn Kelly.
Adams alleges that the Justice Dept ignores voter fraud and states that a mandate came from Deputy Assistant Attorney General Julie Fernandez.
Part 2
Julie Fernandez Deputy Assistant Attorney General
From the National Review January 12, 2010.
“Politicizing the Law”
“Eric Holder’s Justice Department has exiled Christopher Coates to South Carolina.
Coates, you may recall, is a career attorney at Justice, the chief of the Civil Rights Division’s (CRD) Voting Section. More to the point, Coates recommended that the CRD file a lawsuit for voter intimidation against the New Black Panther party and several of its members, who were in paramilitary uniforms (one of them waving a nightstick) threatening elderly white voters at a polling station in Philadelphia during last year’s elections.
Political appointees at the Justice Department overrode Coates’s recommendation. They ordered him to dismiss the lawsuit against all but one of the defendants, even though they were in default because they did not defend themselves. The eventual injunction against the defendant with the weapon was laughably weak.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has opened an investigation of the unexplained dismissal. It has subpoenaed Coates, but Justice has ordered Coates not to appear before the panel. Indeed, the partisan Democrats running the Civil Rights Division have barred Coates and another career lawyer, Christian Adams, from providing any assistance to the commission or the Republican congressmen investigating the matter. What are they so afraid will be revealed?”
“Washington today is infested with advocacy groups run by radicals who view the law — particularly federal civil-rights statutes like the Voting Rights Act — as a weapon to be used to further ideological goals, cement political control, and demonize political opponents. By contrast, fair-minded liberals and conservatives — at least those with whom I worked in the Civil Rights Division during the Bush administration — saw their duty as one of enforcing the law in a neutral manner within the narrow and objective strictures of federal statutes and case law. They did not assume the federal government had a monopoly on civil-rights virtue. They insisted that career attorneys recognize the proper role of the judiciary in what they asked courts to do. They recognized the need for restraint in certain investigatory activity lest the threat of federal power produce results that the law would not command.
Despite this conscious, principled adherence to “blind justice” and the constitutional role of the judiciary, some in the Bush Department of Justice found themselves accused of “politicization” when they tried to hire lawyers who would respect and carry out these principles. The radical Left simply could not tolerate a system in which the liberal ideologues who already predominated the career ranks in the CRD were not replicated in all hiring decisions.
The recent personnel action against Coates exposes the injustice (and hypocrisy) of the Left’s demagoguery. For all intents and purposes, the transfer was a demotion. A demotion for doing the right thing.”
“I would trace it to his mistake of enforcing civil-rights laws even-handedly. In 2003, while I was still at the CRD, we received complaints that black officials in Noxubee County, Miss., were discriminating against white voters. Coates went down and investigated. He found blatant racial discrimination occurring in the polls. The discrimination was organized, led, and orchestrated by the black head of the local Democratic party’s executive committee, a two-time felon. A federal district court found “improper, and in some instances fraudulent conduct . . . for the purpose of diluting white voting strength.” The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, when it upheld the judgment against the defendants, found there was intentional discrimination against white voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Coates’s audacity, first in investigating this case and then in recommending that a lawsuit be filed, made him many enemies. Previously, he had spent his entire career filing lawsuits on behalf of minority voters who had suffered discrimination. But in Noxubee, the white voters being discriminated against were the minority, representing only about 30 percent of voters. Their race made no difference to Coates, but based on what I observed, it made a big difference to ultra-liberal lawyers inside and outside the Justice Department.
When Coates first went to Noxubee to investigate the complaints, a number of the Voting Section’s career lawyers expressed disgust that we would bother to protect white voters. Coates was astonished by the blatantly illegal behavior he saw going on in the polls, but many of his colleagues wanted to ignore it. Several career lawyers in the section flatly refused to work on the case.”
“That brings us to the real bone of contention, the final reason Coates has been transferred: the voter-intimidation case against the New Black Panther party. NBPP members were hurling racial epithets and threatening voters at a polling place in Philadelphia. It was among the most blatant cases of voter intimidation the CRD had seen in decades. Adams was one of three lawyers assigned to the case by Coates, no doubt because, unlike the other career lawyers in the Voting Section, Adams would not refuse to sue non-white perpetrators of voter intimidation. The other two lawyers on the New Black Panther party case were Robert Popper and Spencer Fisher, both highly dedicated voting-rights attorneys as well.”
“One former Voting Section career lawyer who had left the Justice Department to go to work for the NAACP, Kristen Clarke, admitted to the Washington Times that she talked to the new political leadership after Obama was inaugurated, berating them for not dismissing the case. Sources at Justice tell me Clarke made an identical pitch to her former colleagues in the Voting Section once Obama and Eric Holder came to power.
The entreaties proved productive. According to the Washington Times, Loretta King, whom Obama named the acting assistant attorney general of the CRD, ordered Coates to dismiss the case against three of the defendants despite their default. King apparently received approval from Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli to do so. Who else Perrelli spoke with in the Justice Department and the White House is the subject of continued stonewalling in response to the subpoenas served on Justice by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission
Meanwhile, the forced dismissal of the New Black Panther case turned out to be just the beginning of the misery heaped on Coates. According to multiple sources at Justice, King and the political appointees who came in soon after Obama’s inauguration — particularly Julie Fernandez, an ideological firebrand and former lawyer for the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights — put severe restrictions on Coates almost as soon as they arrived and began micromanaging all of his work. The new political apparatchiks stripped Coates of virtually all discretionary authority, delegated responsibility for most decisions to more “results-oriented” underlings in the Voting Section, and rendered him a virtual figurehead.”
“Like Coates, Adams and the entire New Black Panther party trial team are consummate professionals who seek to enforce the laws without political or ideological considerations. Unfortunately, such lawyers are a rarity within the Civil Rights Division, which is without doubt one of the most insidiously partisan places I have ever worked, inside or outside of government.
Over the past year, all hiring within the CRD has been done on a purely partisan, ideological basis. Doubtless that will continue to happen over the next three years.”
“Hans A. von Spakovsky is a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a former counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department.”
J Christian Adams testimony, US Commission on Civil Rights, Fox News interview
J Christian Adams testimony, a former attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Department, testified Tuesday, July 6, 2010, before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Adams has leveled a new charge against the Justice Department of not enforcing voter registration. Adams is interviewed afterwards on FOX News by Megyn Kelly.
Blagojevich trial, Evidence, Contribution list, Rezko, Which Duffy?
A piece of evidence was released in the Rod Blagojevich trial yesterday, Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Like any other piece of information, it is a piece of a puzzle of deception and corruption. On this “Projected vs. Actual Contributions” list for June 2004 we have a listing that is totally expected.
On the last page we see a action item list of names and whether to call or meet.
Rezko trial chief defense counsel Joseph J. Duffy.
Republican state senator Dan Duffy who spoke out against Blagojevich during the impeachment trial.
Here are some interesting remarks made by Joseph Duffy during the Rezko trial.
“- Duffy told jurors that Rezko probably did more fund-raising for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), President Bush and St. Jude’s children’s hospital in 2003 than he did for Gov. Blagojevich. That includes “a Barack Obama fund-raiser or two.” This isn’t the first time Duffy trotted out Obama’s name during the trial. He did the same thing during opening statements.
– Duffy took aim at former Illinois Finance Authority Executive Director Ali Ata, saying Ata over-hyped his relationship with Rezko and under-hyped it with the Blagojevich and Mell families. Ata didn’t need Rezko to get a state job, Duffy said, because he was so close to the governor and Patti Blagojevich’s father, Ald. Dick Mell (33rd). “[Ata] could have gone and rang the doorbell at the governor’s house and probably gotten a hug from Patti,” Duffy said.
-Duffy on Blagojevich campaign contributions made by people who were appointed to posts on state boards and commissions: “They [prosecutors] want you to believe that people gave campaign contributions to get on boards that didn’t pay any money.”
-Duffy rebutting phone charts the government presented as evidence: “Mr. Rezko’s so-called political influence has been grossly, grossly overstated. How many phone calls did we have between Mr. Rezko and the governor? Remember that chart? It doesn’t exist.””
Blagojevich trial, Obama corruption ties, Health planning board
The following comment was posted by megan this morning.
“I thought it might be interesting to look at Obama’s timeline in setting up the Health Facilities Planning Board and how he benefitted from it (well, before money was traced back to him anyway and allegedly donated to charity.)
Personally, I think we should demand that any politician that donates corrupt funds should be required to note what charity those funds were given to, so it can be verified and the organization can be checked to ensure it’s a valid charity with a clean record.
January – August 2003 – Obama was Chairman of the Senate HHS Board…just long enough to get the corrupt board in place for Rezko/Blagojevich.
He pushed Senate Bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act” – which reduced Board members from 15 members to only 9 members…this is what made it possible for Rezko to have control over the board’s voting.
The bill was filed February 20, reviewed February 27th and Obama sent word that the bill should be passed by March 13th. On May 21, 2003, House and Senate passed the bill. The only Senator with “Yes” vote mentioned during the Rezko trial was Obama. Another change that Obama made in the bill was to remove the power to appoint board members from the board itself and give it to the Governor (Blagojevich).
Blagojevich then made the effective date of the bill – JUNE 27, 2003 after already having lined up the corrupt board members to fill it. Maybe it’s just an odd coincidence that Obama got TONS of donations from recently appointed board members on JUNE 30, 2003…only 3 (THREE) days after Blagojevich made this corrupt board “legal”?
On June 30, 2003…
Obama gets $5000 after Ali Ata was appointed as Director at IFA
Obama gets $6000 after Alison Davis gets appointment on Investment Board
Obama gets $15,000 after Dr. Michael Malek gets appointment on Hospital Facility Board
Obama gets $5000 after Abdelhamid Chaib’s wife gets appointment on Employee Security Board
Obama gets $10,000 from Elie Maloof – Rezko used him as one of several strawmen to donate funds to certain politicians.
Obama gets $1000 after Phil Cacciatore (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) gets seat on Board
Obama gets $1000 after Velma Butler (one of Auchi’s Riverside Park Investors) was recommended for Board
Obama gets $1000 after Martello Pollack (Vegas Crystal Comm) received Iraqi Construction contracts
Obama gets $1000 after Jack Carriglio gets appointed to Board
Obama gets $500 (with an additional $1250 the following year) after Anthony Abboud gets appointed to Board
Obama gets $3000 from Michael Winter, who helped Rezko in funneling kickbacks through investment firm
Obama gets $1000 after Talat Othman gets appointed to Board
Obama gets $1000 from both David Gustman and another $1000 from Gustman’s wife after he is appointed Board Chairman
But no….I’m sure it’s ALL JUST A COINCIDENCE, right??
Also…had to laugh when Wright was complaining again about rich white folk – how much is that mansion he’s living in again??”
Blagojevich trial, Obama Rezko ties, Black Panther case dismissal
Will the Rod Blagojevich trial end sooner than projected?
Will Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine be called as witnesses?
Will the focus of the Blagojevich trial continue to be on the senate seat?
We know this:
By the time Rezko was convicted in June 2008, the feds had enough to indict Blagojevich.
The US Justice Dept. waited until December 2008, after the election to arrest Blagojevich.
Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was given a supervisory assignment by Obama early in 2009.
The following statement, damning for both Blagojevich and Obama, was included in the Criminal Complaint and not in the final Indictment. “At the relevant time period, the Planning Board consisted of nine individuals.”
Judge James Zagel has referred to Rezko as a bad witness.
The trial may end in the next 2 weeks instead of lasting the projected 3 to 4 months.
Attorney J. Christian Adams resigned from the US Justice Dept. after the case against the New Black Panther party was dismissed.
Civil rights attorney Bartle Bull has critized the US Justice Dept. and referred to Obama as a “Hustler.”
Obama Quid Pro Quo timeline, IL senate seat, SEIU assisted, Valerie Jarrett
Obama
Quid Pro Quo Timeline
Negotiations to sell his old senate seat
Monday November 3, 2008
BLAGOJEVICH: “Andy Stern and Tom were in my office Monday”
Source: 11/07/2008 4:11 P.M. wiretap
Obama left a phone message with Tom Balanoff of SEIU
Obama called back later that night.
“Tom, i want to talk to you with regard to the Senate seat,” Obama told him.
“I would much prefer she (remain in the White House) but she does want to be Senator and she does meet those two criteria,” Balanoff said Obama told him. “I said: ‘thank you, I’m going to reach out to Gov. Blagojevich.”
Source: SunTimes article
Tuesday November 4, 2008 (Election day)
BLAGOJEVICH: “Balanoff Tuesday night told me that Barack had called him Monday night”
Source: 11/07/2008 4:11 P.M. wiretap Thursday November 6, 2008
BLAGOJEVICH: “I like it though. I like him. I’ve got Balanoff today.”
Source: 11/06/2008 12:13 P.M. wiretap
“Balanoff then described a Nov. 6, 2008 meeting he had with Rod Blagojevich to recommend Valerie Jarrett for Barack Obama’s Senate seat.
Blagojevich responded that he was in “active discussions” with the Madigans about appointing Lisa Madigan and was holding out for a legislative package with the House speaker.
“I said that could be months. He said, ‘Yeah’. I said Valerie Jarrett, I don’t believe she has that kind of time,” Balanoff testified.”
Source: SunTimes article
Friday November 7, 2008
BLAGOJEVICH: “So they met this morning. Okay. Doug called on behalf of Balanoff. Like, he’d like to see me again as soon as, you know, at my earliest convenience.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “He’s gonna resign his seat Tuesday or Wednesday. They’re gonna start puttin’ pressure sayin’ there’s an urgency for that, that, um, lame duck session”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Um, didn’t know quite what to make of my request. Uh, Barack rea-, really wants to get away from Illinois politics”
HARRIS: “Well, what also makes it important if they want her, a, a symbol of they want her, is that they, they, they took the Balanoff meeting right away.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Right away, that’s right.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “That’s right. The very next morning.”
Harris: “Balanoff said I met and they said, okay, come on in. (Laughs).”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Correct, and here comes Alexi.
HARRIS: “With everything else goin’ on right now, this was an important, you know, to take five minutes of his time, so fast, so early, you know.”
Rezko lousy witness?, Rezko bad for Blagojevich and Obama, Judge Zagel
From the Chicago Tribune June 29, 2010.
“Judge: There’s a word for witnesses like Rezko”
“One big question hanging over the trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been whether his convicted fundraiser, Antoin “Tony” Rezko, would appear at these proceedings to testify against his old friend. Rezko, now imprisoned at a federal facility in Wisconsin, has been cooperating with government agents since shortly after his 2008 conviction.
It’s still not certain whether Rezko will testify, but at a hearing before testimony resumed today, U.S. District Judge James Zagel strongly suggested that Rezko would make a lousy government witness.
Zagel said there was a word to describe witnesses like Rezko who damage whatever side calls them to testify. That, said Zagel, “generally explains why they’re not called.” Zagel refrained from actually saying what the word was, leaving the suggestion it was less than polite.”
“Schar said that Rezko has since recanted the letter and provided “a certain amount of information that incriminates Blagojevich.”
All of this talk occurred outside the earshot of jurors, but defense lawyers would like the jury to hear about the Rezko letter. Zagel said he would wait until after Balanoff takes the stand to rule whether the letter can be brought up. ”
Citizen WElls 